Unapologetic and unwavering, the bold sounds of Mad Vantage offer a tantalising take on the power of prog, but further so, the exposition of sound, allowing movements of feeling to transcend beyond words. In their debut album, MINUTIAE, Mad Vantage is not just expressive, but demands to be heard, uniquely sharing their perspective upon topics like the strength of feminism, the introspectiveness of technology in our own realm, and the non-linear growth of religious reliance. Sounds quickly shapeshift into an entire world around you and encompass you in what feels to be the very room these tracks were recorded in.
We sat down with SOLUNE to uncover an in-depth track-by-track of the album. Find out more below!
'Matriarch’
This tune starts the album off explosively, with an unapologetic and complex melodic line played by synth and guitar in unison, anchored by bass and 8-string chugs—offering listeners no time to warm up. I love playing ‘Matriarch’, as it makes me feel like a phoenix powering up in flames to take flight! It also serves as a defiant clapback against the way I’ve been musically misjudged throughout my career and conveys the message: “Don’t underestimate the power of women.” Midway through the track, that message becomes literal — embedded in Morse code within the composition itself. A tribute to the powerful women who came before me and for future generations to come, ‘Matriarch’ is both a battle cry and a celebration.
‘Perpetual Cave’
This one is a nod back to my time studying and playing more in contemporary jazz contexts and features a single note that gets whimsically recontextualised by different chords. It pulls listeners into a trance, like you’re being tumbled around a never-ending cave with no idea where you’ll emerge on the other side. This is all reinforced by samples of whispers, sirens and beautiful melodies echoing in the distance. I hope it takes listeners on a sonic journey.
‘Terranea’
‘Terranea’ is an invented word that captures the feeling of aliens experiencing Earth’s vastness and gravitational pull for the first time. The piece conjures imagery of rock formations, craters and strong ground. There’s also the juxtaposition of playing in 7/4 and 5/4 odd-time meters (which feel to me quite cyclic and spherical, albeit asymmetric). The final section metrically modulates into a more settled hip-hop groove with a beautiful bass solo to close out the first half of the album. The aliens have assimilated into our way of being, coexisting with us in harmony.
‘Ictus’
The track marks the heaviest work of my career so far, and one that confronts the oppressive weight of a deeply religious upbringing and transforms it into catharsis. Built on shifting odd-time meters, the crushing darkness of an 8-string guitar, and the unsettling dissonance of Byzantine and diminished scales, ‘Ictus’ is fearless, intense, and deeply personal. Opening with a bell toll recorded in 2023 at the church in my nonno’s village of San Valentino, Abruzzo (Italy), the track’s soundscape is ominous and apocalyptic. Loosely inspired by the cinematic atmosphere of the video game series, ‘Ictus’ disorients and dominates, balancing meticulous technicality with emotional gravity. What begins as chaos transforms into clarity - a visceral journey through darkness that ultimately develops into empowerment.
‘Pervade Your Mind’
Drawing inspiration from the gradual and subtle encroachment of AI into our lives, ‘Pervade Your Mind’ explores the manipulation of our thoughts and creates a sense of intrusion, skin-crawling unease and psychological discomfort. The composition exemplifies this by utilising odd metric patterns, diminished scales and hollow/harsh timbres. This is all underpinned by head-banging dance grooves and memorable riffs throughout, which suggests a potential willingness to accept the positive (alongside the negative), aspects of AI into our lives."‘
‘Cataclysm Pt. 1: Fuma’
A free piano improvisation imitating the kindling that slowly catches fire and seamlessly erupts into movement 2 of the 3-part work.
‘Cataclysm Pt. 2: Magma’
This part is the main body of the work, signifying the formidable force of a volcanic eruption and features a powerful and victorious melodic line with a continuous driving keyboard pattern. The djenty breakdown at the end of the track also encapsulates the most intense, satisfying climax of the molten blaze. This tune is one of the heaviest and most epic-sounding tracks on the album (in my opinion), so it made sense to close out the album with this 3-part voyage.
‘Cataclysm Pt. 3: Tephra’
A minute of totally chaotic piano and drum free-jazz improvisation to represent the spluttering and unpredictable fragments of volcanic material in the wake of an eruption, gradually dying down to sparse nothingness by the end
MINUTIAE is out on November 7th via Art As Catharsis Records. Stream here!
Catch the album live on December 11th at the Northcote Social Club, tickets available here!
Mad Vantage - MINUTIAE tracklisting
1. Matriarch
2. Perpetual Cave
3. Terranea
4. Ictus
5. Pervade Your Mind
6. Cataclysm Pt. 1: Fuma
7. Cataclysm Pt. 2: Magma
8. Cataclysm Pt. 3: Tephra
